He would beat the bushes without catching the birds, thought the moon was made of green cheese, and that bladders are lanterns.

Out of one sack he would take two moultures or fees for grinding; would act the ass's part to get some bran, and of his fist would make a mallet.

He took the cranes at the first leap, and would have the mail-coats to be made link after link.

He always looked a given horse in the mouth, leaped from the cock to the ass, and put one ripe between two green.

By robbing Peter he paid Paul, he kept the moon from the wolves, and hoped to catch larks if ever the heavens should fall.